The issue of corruption in India is discussed everywhere now a days and when I posted something related to the burning issue of RAFALE, one of my close friends /Colleague wrote that this is all happening, because the voters are corrupt, and we are only responsible for electing them. I appreciate his concern,and he is right also.

The main reason for bribery or corruption, is that the people in general are happy to do this, and give so long as, the demand is reasonable, and consistent with the favour done. Its only when the demand becomes exorbitant or when people are harassed that it comes to light. Corruption, is multidimensional and can never be contained with mere legislation in my opinion. Corruption stems from the greed and discontent which exacerbated because of societal acceptance, of corruption, and even appreciation of it.

Discontent arises from the fact that bright and talented civil servants are never allowed to work freely, and then face political pressures to make them fall in line. At the same time there is no recognition of  their work while their counterparts in corporate sectors are gaining wealth and fame by doing equal, if not more work. The criticism of corruption in the early years of democratic India was followed by tolerance of it in the years that followed and then culminated in honouring of the corrupt with high positions and even awards.

Severe forms of punishment alone can not be a deterrent as seen even in China where officials who are declared to be corrupt are simply executed. Ofcourse in India the menace of corruption is reaching peak and I feel, the corrective measures should begin from the top.

A strong accountability regime with transparent working structure and a more open and satisfying working environment are some of the long lasting solutions. Political leaders should resolutely decide to do away with it and engage themselves in the task of cleansing the system. Except paying lip service, all political parties, are totally corrupt without any exception.

Adding fuel to the ongoing controversy Rafale, Former French President Hollande, in an interview to a media house stated that Dassault Aviation was given no choice but to partner with Ambani-led Reliance Defence for the offset clause in the Rafale fighter jet deal.

With this, the Rafale deal is proving to be an albatross around Central Govt’s neck. We have also seen the media briefing on this controversial deal, in New Delhi, few days ago, by Yeshwant Sinha and Arun Shourie -- both former Ministers in Vajpayee cabinet. And senior Advocate, Prashant Bhushan, have made certain startling revelations about the manner in which earlier UPA’s negotiations, at an advanced stage for 126 Rafale fighter jets was suddenly changed by settling for 36 fighters only. This they alleged, was in gross violation of mandatory procedures including bypassing the Cabinet Committee on Security. The purported documents in support, released by them do lend considerable credence to their charges.

BJP has been arguing that UPA Govt. inordinately delayed, the urgent need of fighter aircraft and it was Modi who completed the deal in jiffy when first aircraft itself was to be delivered only September 2019. When the questions were raised by Congress, the BJP leaders and Ministers gave contradicting answers in particular with regard to price per aircraft so much so that one of RSS supporters Mr Nigam, went on to claim that if government disclosed the price, the entire India-specific details would get revealed at the click of button through Google. Subsequently BJP started responding with a counter on Bofors deal, which is a dead issue in spite of BJP Govt's attempt to implicate Rajiv Gandhi. Also unable to give suitable answers BJP attempted to use Bollywood Actress Pallavi Joshi to simply explain the deal.

 Keeping all these things in view the trio, Sinha, Shourie, Bhushan, had come down heavily for inexplicable dropping from the project of a government owned HAL which had already entered into (by then UPA) working share agreement with Dassault Aviation according to which 70 percent of the work on 108 planes were to be done in India. Instead, a company with no past experience in the field of aerospace manufacturing, and incorporated barely days before India-France Joint statement issued on 10/4/15, has been assigned 70 percent of offset benefits worth 210 billion, apparently in flagrant violation of Defence offset guidelines that require approval by Defence Minister,

In fact the easing out of HAL made a mockery of oft-repeated “make in India” slogan. The said joint statement had unequivocally stated that “ the aircraft and associated systems and weapons would be delivered on same configuration as had been tested and approved by Indian Air Force.” Then why such a huge price differentials? 

While the Trio had described the deal as major scandal amounting to misuse of office and criminal misconduct, and places enormous additional burden on the national exchequer. Is there something more than what meets the eye? If the recent claim that the deal finalised now is much cheaper, the government should come out with time line starting from 2001 to give clear picture to the people of this country whose taxes are used to make such big purchases. 

This is with reference to Mr Krishnasagar Rao, BJP’s spokesperson's article in an english daily titled  Congress --A failing family enterprise published on 10th Aug.  He described Congress party as a family owned business entity. I have seen Mr Krishnasagar in many discussions on televisons and he speaks very logical and is convincing in his aruguments.  But coming to this refered article, it is very evident that his motive was to defame Congress in order to prop up his own party. Not only Krishnasagar ji, many of my FB friends, also express similar opinions.

 Many people who support BJP only, say that the Nehru dynasty enjoyed power for sixty years, but I have not seen anybody talking about the sacrifices, made by Nehru, and his successors including loosing its family members. But here in the Indian context it is very common, to have their scions in the domain in which their families move. It May be very rare to see an example from any field where such legacy doesn’t continue. Even in politics too what about Bihar, UP, TS, AP and so on. Are the leaders of such states not encouraging their heirs? Therefore it looks that “my mistake is not at all a mistake but your mistake is only a mistake.” I can discuss any number of issues, but now I will only confine myself to the dynastic politics, about which it says it’s a sacred cow. But is it so?

Son of MP Ramansingh, son of Vasundhara Raje, including she herself, son of Rajveersingh MP Etah, UP,  Son of Kalyan Singh, are all not from BJP? 

Poonam Mahajan, Preetam Munde, Heena Gavit, are all daughters of BJP leaders. Raksha Khadre is the daughter-in-Law of BJP leader Eknath Khadre.Varun Gandhi, Menaka Gandhi are examples of dynastic politics in BJP party. Now BJP is fielding BH Raghavendra, son of  B.S. Yedyurappa, in coming Assembly Elections Karnataka. As I know there are 38 MPs in LokSabha, out of 281 BJP MPs, and there are 9 MPs in Rajya Sabha out of 56, who are sons and daughters of BJP leaders. So is it fair on BJP or someothers to blame Congress and Nehru family for its dynastic politics? 

Whether anybody agrees or not both Indira and Rajiv have laid down their lives, in the call of duty of the nation, but in BJP I don’t think, anyone is there who laid down their lives for the nation.